LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Western Kentucky has accepted an invitation to take on James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, the program announced Saturday.
The Hilltoppers take an 8-5 record south after coming up short in the Conference USA Championship Game on Friday night at Jacksonville State. This is their 11th bowl appearance over the past 13 seasons.
"On behalf of the entire Western Kentucky University Football program, we are thrilled to be returning to Boca Raton and playing in this year's Boca Raton Bowl," WKU athletics director Todd Stewart said. "We have a lot of players from the state of Florida, so I know their families will be excited to be able to get to the game. We're just really, really excited to have this opportunity and we're looking very forward to the week ahead."
WKU is very familiar with this bowl, as the Tops won it in both 2016 and 2021. Head coach Tyson Helton has led the program to six consecutive bowl appearances.
Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton paces the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
The Boca Raton Bowl will bring the first-ever meeting between the Hilltoppers and the Dukes. James Madison finished third in the Sun Belt's East Division and went 8-4 overall in the regular season.
Kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN.
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